Koen denies brave Pumas historic win

Louis Koen kicked a penalty after the siren had sounded to give South Africa a fraught 26-25 victory over Argentina yesterday.

The visitors were denied their first victory over the Springboks in nine attempts by a flawless kicking display from Koen, who scored 16 points from two conversions and four penalties.

The Pumas had looked set to add another scalp to their collection following their 2-0 home series win over France as they scored three tries in the middle portion of the match to lead 25-16 with only 11 minutes remaining.

But a Springbok try by replacement wing Brent Russell, converted by Koen, put the home side back within one score of saving the game and an increasingly tattered reputation after two indifferent displays against Scotland.

Referee Nigel Williams then penalised the Pumas for killing the ball at the ruck, allowing Koen to coolly slot the goal from five yards in from the right-hand touchline and 30 yards out.

South Africa had started brightly with the first try of the match in the 13th minute, Craig Davidson charging down an attempted kick and setting up Danie Coetzee to cross the line.

The Pumas' fly-half Gonzalo Quesada missed two penalty attempts, but two tries in the space of three minutes from Felipe Contepomi and Jose Maria Nunez Piossek gave them the lead.

Koen kicked penalties either side of half-time to put his side briefly back in front before Quesada restored the Pumas' advantage.

Argentina had a try by Contepomi disallowed when a touch judge ruled that there had been a punching incident in the build-up by lock Rimas Alvarez.

But shortly afterwards full-back Juan Martin Hernandez streaked clear after the Springboks again surrendered possession in the Pumas' 22 to score his side's third try and give them a nine-point lead with Quesada converting.

Three minutes from full-time, Russell stepped through a gap to score the Springboks' second try, but they were still trailing 25-23 when the final siren went to set up Koen's dramatic winner.